Furr’s Family Dining
2525 W. Anderson, 459-3105Daily, 11am-8pm
4222 S. I-35, 443-3818
Monday-Saturday, 10:30am-9pm; Sunday, 10:30am-8pm
4015 S. Lamar, 441-7825
Sunday-Thursday, 11am-8pm; Friday-Saturday, 11am-8:30pm
A decade ago, Lubbock-bred Furr’s revolutionized the art of cafeteria dining by introducing the all-you-can-eat option ($5.99 weekday lunch/$6.59 dinner and weekends). This is one cafeteria where gluttony need not be constrained by the wallet impact of a la carte pricing. Just pile on as much salad, meat, veggies, breads, and dessert as your tray will hold, and go to town. The reorder window is nearby for those not sated in one trip. Furr’s food isn’t quite as good as Luby’s, but you get a lot more for a lot less.
Golden Corral
9710 N. Lamar, 834-99113607 S. Lamar, 442-3472
Monday-Thursday, 11am-10pm; Friday, 11am-11pm; Saturday, 7:30am-11pm; Sunday, 7:30am-10pm
By far the most comprehensive American-style buffet in town ($5.79 lunch/$7.99 dinner), Golden Corral’s Golden Choice Buffet offers everything from fried chicken to pizza to cocktail tacos amidst a bevy of soups, salads, baked potatoes, vegetables, desserts, and delicious rolls baked every 15 minutes (you’ll know the rolls are fresh when you hear the brass bell ring). Although steaks are Golden Corral’s professed raison d’être, all but the heartiest of appetites can live happily on buffet alone.
Ryan’s Family Steak House
1813 W. Parmer, 835-8366Monday-Thursday, 10:45am-9:30pm; Friday-Saturday, 10:45am-10:00pm; Sunday, 10:45am-9:30pm
Despite minor cosmetic improvements to the décor, Ryan’s “Hot Mega Bar” ($5.79 lunch/ $6.79-$7.79 dinner) has had trouble delivering a wealth of food that is edible, much less tasty. Fried chicken that was ice cold on the inside and shriveled-up fish filets purporting to be salmon and Velveeta-style cheese enchiladas were among the gag-inducing lowlights of one visit. At least the rolls were good. Friday and Saturday nights feature all-you-can-eat steak and shrimp on the buffet for $7.79, but make sure to watch what you eat.
Sirloin Stockade
5607 N. Lamar, 451-5357Sunday-Thursday, 11am-9pm; Friday-Saturday, 11am-10pm
1723 N. I-35, in Round Rock, 218-8600
Monday-Thursday, 11am-9pm; Friday-Saturday, 11am-10pm; Sunday, 10:30am-9pm
In the days before Golden Corral introduced the “Golden Choice Buffet,” Sirloin Stockade ruled the roost among down-market family steak houses with meal-in-itself food bars. Bonanza and Western Sizzlin’ didn’t come close, and both left Austin long ago. Now Sirloin Stockade finds itself in the perilous position of playing catch-up to the Corral. Though they’ve added a bakery and trumped up their buffet a bit ($5.19 lunch/$6.49 dinner and all day Sunday), Sirloin Stockade still can’t compete with Golden Corral’s variety. Nevertheless, you can usually add a made-to-order steak to your buffet at the Stockade for only a buck or so extra.
This article appears in February 1 • 2002.